The Beauty of Leaving Kids Hanging in a Story Inside: The Secret to Hooking Kids into the Habit of Reading- Teaching Kids to Read “I hate that book!” I couldn’t believe my then 3rd grader was turning his nose to a book I loved. Especially since he hadn’t even cracked the cover. “That’s OK,” I said. “But, you may not move from your seat and I will simply read it aloud to myself because I love it…” I began to read and read. Just when I could tell he had fallen in love with the story, and just at the height of excitement I shut the book. “Wait!” he shouted. I smiled. I knew I had him. “Maybe it’s an OK story…” photo by Aaron Burden Ha! I had him. I have played this dirty trick on each of my boys, many times actually. One of the keys to becoming an excellent writer is simply being exposed to lots and lots of great literature. LOTS. So, I still read aloud to my kids. My teenaged kids. … Read More »
10 Things I’d LOVE to share with New Homeschoolers So here we are, just you and me. For the moment, my 4 youngest boys are all wonderfully occupied and I thought I would write to you, the new homeschooler. (if you are a seasoned homeschooler, please read and then add your 2 cents at the end of this article). What Advice Would I Give a New Homeschooler? Here is my top ten list of Unsolicited Tips and Encouragement from Me to You… 1. Pray. Every. Single. Day. Homeschooling is wonderful, but it can be completely overwhelming at times. I do not know about you, but I can barely complete my laundry without talking with the Lord. Here’s an inside look into my heart… 2. Release Your Expectations. When we begin homeschooling, it is easy to paint a very romantic picture of our children quietly studying at the kitchen table, or reading contentedly on the living room floor… Whatever your imagination cooks up, release it now. Homeschool is a living thing. As you and your children learn and grow things will morph and change. 3. Get Outside and get Dirty. You decided to homeschool for many reasons. I know, me too. Do not try to create a public school classroom around your kitchen table. The very nature of homeschooling is that we get to teach our children as we walk through our day. Make sure you get out with your kids as often as you can. Explore. Talk as you explore. Go to the library and learn about what you explored. 4. Model Hunger to your Kids. Be hungry for knowledge and show your kids what an adventure life can be. Each and every day look for multiple chances to say, “I do not know, but let’s find out together!” Introduce them to the library and have a ball researching whatever they are interested at the moment. If they are not interested in anything, find something that interests you and learn about it together! 5. Experience First. You really cannot teach a toddler what the word “Sticky” means until they stick their hands into the honey. Always look for the way to have your kids taste, see, hear, touch, and feel before they create, explain, write, and defend a subject. Trust me, the more senses you hit before the lesson, the more exciting the lesson will be! 6. Spy and Steal. It’s not what you think! Spy on the “best” homeschoolers you can and steal their best stuff. This may not sound very Christian. All joking aside, I am serious. Philippians 3:17 encourages us: Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. Look for great homeschoolers and glean from their years of wisdom. 7. Smile. A Lot! Learning is amazingly fun. Mounds of unfinished worksheets, quizzes, and tests are not. Make sure to focus on learning. Have fun with this homeschool thing. Sure there is a time for serious work, but even that can be fun if your heart and focus are right. 8. Keep your priorities straight. While school and education are very important, model true compassion to your kids. If life happens and you need to focus on family or neighbors, do so. People should always come first. 9. Do not Compare your family to another. Every family, every student, every child is different. Resist the urge to compare your children to anyone. I can tell you from experience that this is a hard one. You may know homeschoolers who have violin playing, chess champion, football quarterback, novel writing children. Great! Do not feel like you are failing if your children are not interested in the same subjects as the homeschooler next door. Embrace your unique family. 10. Keep it simple. With all the buzz about failing public education, it can be tempting to show “the world” how it is done by over-scheduling our own homeschool children. While activities are wonderful, be on constant watch for balance and imbalance within your home. That’s it. My 2 cents worth. I absolutely love homeschooling my children. I hope you are enjoying every day you are blessed to homeschool yours. More from Bekki So, God made YOU a homeschool mom Experience First: The Secret to Unlocking Learning Choosing a chore system that works for your family Inside Out Homeschooling A Better Way to Homeschool Beyond Blessed Life Planner 32%off using the code BeyondBlessed2019
Thanksgiving Writing Prompts: Yes, Writing! Thanksgiving Writing Prompts for Homeschoolers.While we do break free from our regular homeschooling routine during the holidays, it is important to continue writing:). Grab your free Notebooking Templates and have your child choose one of the Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Below (source: Alpha Omega Publications) Download Thanksgiving Printable Paper homeschool helpers printables Grab your pencil and put on your thinking cap! • On Thanksgiving, my family likes to… • If I had been a Pilgrim child on the very first Thanksgiving, I would have… • My favorite Thanksgiving memory is… • What I like/dislike about Thanksgiving is… • I think a turkey would/wouldn’t make a good pet because… • If I had been a Pilgrim travelling to America on the Mayflower, I would have taken along… • On Thanksgiving, it’s traditional for my family to… • The Pilgrims’ feast on the first Thanksgiving included… • The best thing the Indians did to help the Pilgrims was… • I am thankful for my family because… • When I think of Thanksgiving, I think about… • To make a great Thanksgiving turkey, you… • The first Thanksgiving I can remember was… • As I walked up to the table to share Thanksgiving with my family,… • My favorite part about Thanksgiving is… • To me, Thanksgiving symbolizes… • My perfect Thanksgiving meal would include… • Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house is… • Being thankful means… • I think brown and orange are Thanksgiving colors because… • The first Thanksgiving and today’s Thanksgiving are very similar/different because… More Thanksgiving Activities Here Thanksgiving Math, Reading, Science Activities for 3rd Grade 30 Thanksgiving Activities, Crafts, and Games for K-2nd Grade 21 Thanksgiving Math Activities for Kindergarten 4 Thanksgiving Jokes Solved with Divisibility Fall Math and Literacy Super Bundle- Grades K-2 Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets. Enroll in the sneak peek class here.